3.1 How did the rise of extremism affect international relations?

Summary

In this episode of 'Making History Fun with Farah,' chapter 3.1 explores how the rise of extremism shaped international relations. The Great Depression fueled support for radical movements, leading to the collapse of democracies in Germany and Japan. Hitler’s rise to power, Mussolini’s alliance, and Japan’s militarization heightened global tensions. The Spanish Civil War became a battleground for fascism and communism, drawing selective foreign involvement. Hitler’s foreign policy aimed to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, reclaim lost territory, and expand German influence, with early successes facilitated by appeasement. The episode highlights the economic, political, and diplomatic forces that paved the path toward World War II.

Takeaways

• 📉 The Great Depression caused economic collapse in the US and other countries dependent on American loans.
• 💥 Economic hardship during the Great Depression fueled support for extremist political movements like communism and fascism.
• 🇩🇪 In Germany, Hitler leveraged economic problems to grow the Nazi Party, became Chancellor in 1933, and established a totalitarian regime.
• 🌍 The rise of dictatorships in Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USSR increased global tensions in the 1930s.
• 🇮🇹 Mussolini aligned with Hitler, invaded Abyssinia, and formed the Rome-Berlin Axis and Pact of Steel by 1939.
• 🇯🇵 Japan fell under military control after the Wall Street Crash, expanded into Manchuria, and joined the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany and Italy.
• 🇪🇸 The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was a battleground between fascism and communism, with international powers taking cautious or limited involvement.
• 🛡️ Hitler’s foreign policy aimed to end the Treaty of Versailles, recover lost territory, build a strong military, and unite German-speaking people.
• ⚔️ Key events in Hitler’s expansion included the remilitarization of the Rhineland, Anschluss with Austria, and the acquisition of the Sudetenland, often aided by weak responses from Britain and France.
• 🇵🇱 Hitler’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, marked the immediate trigger for World War II.

Q & A

How did the Great Depression influence political ideologies in the 1930s?

The Great Depression caused widespread economic hardship, leading people to support extreme political movements like communism and fascism. Weak democracies in countries such as Germany and Japan collapsed, enabling dictators like Hitler to rise to power.

Why did Hitler gain followers during the Great Depression?

Hitler capitalized on Germany's economic problems, including unemployment and poverty, to gain support for the Nazi Party, promising stability, national pride, and solutions to economic woes.

Which countries had dictators by 1933, and how did this affect international relations?

By 1933, Italy, the USSR, Germany, and Japan were ruled by dictators. This increased global tensions as aggressive foreign policies, military expansions, and alliances among dictators challenged democratic nations and the existing international order.

What was the Rome-Berlin Axis and why was it significant?

The Rome-Berlin Axis was an alliance formed in 1939 between Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany. It symbolized the growing cooperation between fascist powers and the increasing threat to democratic nations in Europe.

How did the Spanish Civil War reflect the struggle between fascism and communism?

The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was a conflict between Franco’s Nationalists, who sought a fascist military dictatorship, and Republicans, supported by socialists, communists, and anarchists. It became a battleground for fascist and communist ideologies.

What role did foreign powers play in the Spanish Civil War?

Italy and Germany supported Franco to promote fascist agendas, while the USSR provided limited aid to Republicans. Britain, France, and the USA were divided, cautious about communism, and generally avoided direct intervention.

What were Hitler’s main foreign policy goals before World War II?

Hitler aimed to end the Treaty of Versailles, recover lost territory, build a strong military, unite German-speaking people, and expand Germany’s influence across Europe.

What was the significance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936?

Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. The lack of response from France and Britain emboldened Hitler and demonstrated the weakness of international opposition to German aggression.

How did the Sudetenland crisis demonstrate the policy of appeasement?

In 1938, Hitler exploited ethnic tensions in Czechoslovakia to demand the Sudetenland. Britain, France, Italy, and Germany allowed him to annex it without Czechoslovakia’s consent, showing a willingness to appease Hitler to avoid war.

What triggered the start of World War II in 1939?

World War II began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, after Poland resisted Hitler’s demands for Danzig and the Polish Corridor, demonstrating the failure of appeasement and aggressive expansion by Nazi Germany.

How did economic conditions after the Wall Street Crash contribute to Japan’s militarization?

The Wall Street Crash weakened Japan’s democracy and economy, allowing the military to take control. Japan expanded into Manchuria and joined Germany and Italy in the Anti-Comintern Pact, increasing global tensions.